ANSONIA — Ansonia police officers will be out in force Friday, looking to collect tips — not hand out tickets — for a great cause.

A Tip-A-Cop event will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday at Copper City Bar & Grill, 82-84 Main St.

Several Ansonia officers will trade in their uniforms for Tip-A-Cop T-shirts and smiles in hopes of raising much-needed funds to help purchase life-saving equipment for the department.

The Tip-A-Cop event is part of a monthlong series that will lead up to the 3rd annual “Honoring Ansonia Blue” police appreciation day, held by First Baptist Church Oct. 7.

The Rev. John Hinson and his wife, Maude, have been the driving force behind the annual campaign to show appreciation for local law enforcement, while raising funds for them.

To date, thanks to the generosity of the community, various fundraisers and private donations, nearly $25,000 has been raised to help the department purchase ballistic shields, defibrillators for cruisers and trauma kits for officers to wear on their belts.

Police Chief Kevin Hale has said without the Hinsons’ efforts and all those who donated, the equipment simply was not in the department’s budget, and is critical to keeping officers safe.

The Hinsons hope to raise $40,000 during this year’s police appreciation campaign, with a goal to purchase additional ballistic shields, along with ballistic helmets.

Other Tip-A-Cop events are scheduled for every Friday in September, including from 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 14 at LuLu Pazzo; 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 21 at Crave; and 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at the McDonald’s drive-thru on Division Street.

Then, at 6 p.m. Sept. 27, First Baptist Church will hold a ziti dinner fundraiser at Emmett O’Brien Technical High School with the school’s culinary department. The cost is $6 per person; $10 for a family of four (two adults/two children); and free for children under 5, and is “the best deal in town,” according to Maude Hinson.

This year’s party will feature live music by Backbeat, free refreshments, raffle and door prizes, a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses, line dancing lessons courtesy of Texas Roadhouse, giveaways and more. Kids will also be able to explore a police cruiser and take a picture with an officer and get their own badge.

Tax deductible donations can be made online at www.FirstBaptistAnsonia.com, and clicking on the police shield to donate, or by checks payable to First Baptist Church Ansonia and mailed to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 147, Ansonia, CT 06401, with “Ansonia Police Gear” in the memo. The Hinsons stressed they will never collect money over the phone, especially in light of several scams.